Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center news

9th Nursing Research Conference to highlight methods and resources

The 9th annual Nursing Research Conference will highlight valuable tools, current research, and methodologies available to nurses involved in a wide variety of research topics at Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center (LLUAHSC) and its affiliated entities. “Promoting Growth in our Garden” is the theme for the event, which will be held on Monday, May 7, 2008, in Wong Kerlee International Conference Center from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“The purpose is to provide education and insight into current research being conducted,” notes Patti Radovich, MSN, CMS, manager of nursing research at Loma Linda University Medical Center, and coordinator of the conference. “We also want to educate participants on various aspects of the research process such as instruments, dissemination of findings, and working with the Institutional Review Board (IRB).”

The conference will feature a number of interesting presentations including lectures from three staff nurses about their research experiences, a post-doctoral student discussing research instruments and tools, and a medical librarian speaking about how to use EndNote, a computerized information management program that allows researchers to cite and store footnote information for documents in progress. Linda Halstead, MA, associate director of the office of sponsored research, will discuss how to manage research studies. This presentation can be used for IRB credit. Ms. Radovich will present information on how to develop research posters and abstracts for the dissemination of findings.

A selection of posters from researchers and student researchers at the School of Nursing will be on exhibit throughout the day. There will also be a poster contest with ribbons for first, second, third, and fourth prize and cash awards in the amounts of $250, $150, $100, and $100 respectively for the winners. The 2008 conference is sponsored by LLUMC, the LLU School of Nursing, and the Gamma Alpha chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, a national organization dedicated to excellence in nursing.

Tuition is free to nurses from LLUMC, the BMC, Children’s Hospital, and East Campus, as well as for School of Nursing students and faculty. The cost is $60 for non-nursing employees of LLUAHSC and $120 for everyone else who registers before April 25.

“We had the highest attendance ever last year,” Ms. Radovich observes, “at 121 participants. This year, we’re hoping for 130. More importantly, we’d like to see an increase in enthusiasm, and in the number of research projects identified on our campus.”